Steve Israel: 'Ordinary' bribe shows way of life for some pols

That's all it allegedly took to bribe an Albany politician in yet another episode of the endless soap opera that's our state government, "As the World of Sleaze Turns."

Didn't hear about that measly $1,000?

It might have been overlooked in the rash of corruption charges that have plagued our Legislature in the past months — three lawmakers arrested in the past three months alone.

But that $1,000 allegedly taken by former state Sen. Shirley Huntley of Queens — who was first charged with embezzlement and then wore a wiretap to ensnare other pols and reduce her charges — shows just how easy it is to buy some politicians.

Authorities said Huntley took that $1,000 to arrange a meeting with Kennedy Airport officials for a businessman hoping to land a contract with the airport. The businessman was a friend of another state senator, who allegedly brokered the deal. Guess who that state senator reportedly is?

John Sampson, a prime candidate to star in "As the World of Sleaze Turns."

He snared headlines this week because of charges that would seem outrageous for the most outlandish soap opera.

The former Democratic leader from Brooklyn is accused of stealing $440,000 from the sale of foreclosed homes. Sampson, who allegedly stole the money in 2005 while he was a foreclosure referee, wanted the money to run for Brooklyn district attorney. To cover his tracks, he got $200,000 from a developer. But when the developer was busted, Sampson called a friend in the federal prosecutor's office to get the names of those who might testify against him.

To "take them out," Sampson apparently said.

If that doesn't get your goat, how about this: Sampson's lawyer — a former U.S. attorney — called the charges against Sampson "ordinary," not "official corruption."

"Ordinary." An elected official is charged with stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars and apparently says he wants to "take out" anyone who reports his corruption. That's ordinary? No wonder it only takes an "ordinary" $1,000 to bribe someone who's elected to make — not break — the law.

Sampson's acts, his lawyer's attitude and that $1,000 bribe are examples of how corruption is a way of life for far too many Albany politicians: 32 arrests in the last seven years.

So once more, the question is how to stop this endless rerun of "As the World of Sleaze Turns."

We're again hearing calls for new ethics laws, campaign finance reform and term limits. Redistricting reform also might be a start, to make it harder for corrupt politicians to create safe districts for their re-elections.

But the fact is, virtually all of the Albany politicians charged with corruption — from former state Sens. Joe Bruno and Shirley Huntley to Sampson and former state Senate Majority Leader Malcolm Smith — have been elected again and again, even as charges of corruption swirl around them.

Until we stop voting for them, we'll get what we pay for: politicians who are so corrupt, they can be bought for $1,000.